Monday, March 14, 2016

After being convicted for her part in the violent gay-bashing of two Philadelphia men in 2014, 25 year-old Kathryn Knott was sentenced to 5-10 months in prison, plus two years probation in addition to anger management classes and a $2,000 fine.

The attack left two men bloodied in the street with one man's shattered jaw having to be wired shut for months.

Ten days after her sentencing, Knott's lawyer, Bill Brennan, requested a resentencing hearing to consider other options for her punishment.

Judge Roxanne Covington agreed to hear the appeal. And then denied the motion.

"The sentence is well within the guidelines and is as appropriate as I can provide within the law and shall remain," Covington told Knott and her attorney, Bill Brennan, in court. "The motion is denied."

Brennan requested Covington consider alternatives to incarceration, contending that Knott's sentencing should be more rehabilitative and a better attempt to heal the wounds caused by the assault. He suggested Covington incorporate a public service announcement or community service into a new sentence.

In denying the motion, Covington said Knott displayed a "complete disconnection" from the assault and a "failure" to take ownership of her actions despite issuing an apology at her sentencing hearing.

"As injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, hatred toward any group is no different than hatred toward all of us," Covington said. "Every single one of us has a right to be who we are, to love who we want and to walk down the street and enjoy the city safely, without fear of ridicule, of torture, of attack."

Knott was offered the same plea deal her co-conspirators received. She declined the plea deal choosing to try her luck in court. That didn't play out with the jury.

She was unapologetic right up to the minute her guilty verdict was read. It was only after that she suddenly seemed interested in expressing remorse.